Sgt H N HOWES DFM 740896
Harold Norman Howes was born in Gillingham, Kent on 24th December 1915. He joined the RAFVR about December
1937 as an Airman u/t Pilot and was called up on 1st September 1939. He joined 213 Squadron, coded AK, on 7th
September and was serving with 85 Squadron in France in May 1940. On the 20th he damaged a Do17 of KG77 (4)?
but was then shot down in Hurricane P2555 by Me110s and crash-landed near Abbeville. He was unhurt and the
Hurricane was abandoned.
On 18th August 1940 he destroyed two Me110s and damaged a Do17, on the 31st got a probable Do17 and on 1st
September he shared another Do17 and damaged a Me109.
Posted to 605 Squadron, coded UP, at Croydon on 12th September, Howes destroyed a Do17 and probably another
on the 15th, destroyed a Me109 on 12th October, damaged Me109's on 1st and 2nd November and destroyed two on
the 10th and 15th.
He was awarded the DFM (gazetted 25th October 1940). Citation; During the period of intensive operations in
France, Sergeant Howes destroyed four enemy aircraft. In August, 1940, he took part in attacks against large
enemy formations. He personally destroyed two Messerschmitt 110s and one Dornier 17, and severely damaged
several others. Sergeant Howes has proved himself a brave and determined pilot.
Howes was shot down by a Me109 on 1st December in Hurricane V6844, he made a crash-landing on Gravesend
aerodrome. He was unhurt and the Hurricane was later repaired.
He was posted back to 85 Squadron, coded VY, on 9th December 1940 the squadron now flying night flying
Hurricanes from RAF Gravesend. He took off for a routine night patrol at 17.15hrs on the night of the 22 nd . He was
recalled when the weather began to deteriorate, he was killed when he apparently lost control of Hurricane I V6679,
perhaps due to icing crashing at Cuxton, Kent.
Howes was 24. He is buried in St Margaret's churchyard, Rainham, Kent.
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